Donald Clarence Harwood (1933 â 2015)
We will forever miss our husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, Donald Clarence Harwood. After a valiant fight with cancer, Don left us on Sunday, March 22, 2015. He was born on February 3, 1933 in Salt Lake City to Clarence Harwood and Violet Killpatrick. He married his high school sweetheart and best friend, Marilyn Eckersley, on September 4, 1953, in the Salt Lake Temple.
He graduated from the University of Utah in 1955 and was a Ute fan to the very end, watching the game in the final hours of his life, as his team made it to the Sweet 16. He was an Air Force Pilot and later flew for the Air National Guard. He was a roofing contractor and man of integrity his entire life. He served as a Bishop, Stake President, service missionary at the Utah State Prison, a temple worker in the Jordan River Temple, and as Patriarch to the Murray Parkway Stake.
He loved being a grandfather and supporting his grandchildren in all their many activities. He learned to love soccer, football, basketball, baseball, rugby, water polo, dance, piano, and violin because that is what his grandchildren loved. His favorite activity was to be at a game cheering one of them on. He was a righteous example and patriarch to his family to his final breath. He was our safe place and true north in life and will be missed.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn, children Karen, Scott (Becky), Susanne, and Jeff (Lora), his brother Richard (Kathy) and his sister, Kay Sodja. He had nine grandchildren (Michael, Jennifer, Megan, Parker, Victoria, Samantha, Garrett, Hailey and Makenna) and six great-grandchildren.
He had one son, Craig, who preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at the LDS Murray 15th Ward Meeting House, 5555 South 700 West, Murray, Utah. Viewing from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. prior to funeral services and Wednesday, March 25 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Church. Interment at Valley View Memorial Park.